These words from Bill Buckler, "Captain" of the Privateer market letter based in Queensland, Australia, are always worth remembering. And with a New Year underway, very timely:
The Sovereign Individual
You're one, I'm another. Forget senior citizens, baby boomers, or the X generation. Forget about age, class, race, sex, demographic, size, or shape. What matters is what goes on inside your head. And that's absolutely unique. It has never been duplicated and never will be.
You're one, I'm another. Forget senior citizens, baby boomers, or the X generation. Forget about age, class, race, sex, demographic, size, or shape. What matters is what goes on inside your head. And that's absolutely unique. It has never been duplicated and never will be.
There's a lot there on Buckler's intro page that I completely agree with.
The principles of most things on this planet have already been discovered (or are waiting to reveal themselves), we just lose sight of them or choose to ignore them until something comes along to help us rediscover the crucial knowledge.
Speaking of the phrase (and idea of), "The Sovereign Individual", have you ever read the book of the same title by Rees-Mogg and Davidson? I found it very interesting when I read it a few years ago.
Posted by: David | January 14, 2009 at 04:36 PM
@David: I'm familiar with the book, and read about it, but never read it myself. I'm sure I agree with its larger points.
I think Rees-Mogg and Davidson teamed up for a couple of books in the 1990s. I'm familiar with them because the 1990s was a decade in which I read Jim Rogers' "Investment Biker," Harry Browne's "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" (written in the 170s), and some stuff by Doug Casey. And if you read those folks, you'd come across Jim Davidson, etc. Probably explains my libertarian leanings! ;-)
Posted by: John | January 14, 2009 at 06:04 PM
Hi John,
I actually checked out Harry Browne's first book last summer at the library, but didn't have time to finish it. So that one is still on my list :)
I still refer back to his articles and books, wish there were more people like him around now.
Posted by: David | January 15, 2009 at 06:50 PM
I found "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" to be thought-provoking, even though I didn't agree with some of it. Browne himself later said he didn't. For example, in the book he says he didn't vote. But, as we know, he later ran for president twice.
Posted by: John | January 15, 2009 at 11:28 PM
John,
That's so funny you should mention that. Last night, after thinking about this subject, I went to Browne's web site to listen to some old radio programs.
http://www.harrybrowne.org/Archives/Archives.htm
A caller brought up the issue of not voting vs. voting, and Browne said he completely understood his reasons for not voting. He cited his own experience of not voting for 30 years until 1994, two years before his first Lib-party pres campaign.
Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled program... :)
Posted by: David | January 16, 2009 at 08:50 PM